The Victorian Kitchen Garden Programme 2026 - 7 Workshop Series

Kitchen Gardener 2026 Workshop Series - 7 worshop package [April to November all inclusive]

All workshops are held on Sundays from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Sunday 19th April
Spring Preparation & Early Sowings
Kick off the season by waking up the garden. This session focuses on preparing your growing space and getting a head start on the year. Topics include:

• Bed Preparation: Clearing winter debris and nourishing the soil with organic matter.
• Early Crops: Sowing hardy vegetables like peas, broad beans, and early salads.
• Tool Care: A guide to maintaining your essential gardening kit for the season ahead.
• What to Bring: Sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, and plenty of enthusiasm.

"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature." — Alfred Austin

Sunday 17th May
Season Launch & Integrated Management
In this expanded kick-off session, we combine early-season planning with active garden care. Topics include:

• Planning & Foundations: Best growing conditions (aspect & shelter), soil appreciation, and vegetable rotation/classification.
• Practical Sowing: A hands-on seed sowing session; attendees are encouraged to bring their own seed varieties to sow.
• Pest & Disease Control: Introducing a practical integrated management approach to control problems as crops establish.
• What to Bring: Seeds you wish to start, a notebook for rotation mapping, and gloves.

"A good gardener always plants three seeds — one for the bugs, one for the weather, and one for himself." — Leo Aikman

Sunday 21st June
Mid-Season Maintenance
Focus on maintaining a productive garden through seed sowing and successions to ensure a continuous supply, alongside plant maintenance like thinning and pruning for optimal airflow.

"Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly." — Pablo Neruda

Sunday 19th July
Summer Harvests
Focusing on maximizing yields. We cover harvesting techniques to encourage continuous production and the use of liquid feeds to support high-energy summer growth.

"Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration." — Louisa May Alcott

Sunday 20th September
Stocktaking & Seed Guardianship
A vital time to forward plan. Topics include soil rejuvenation using green manures, identifying crops to start now, and an introduction into seed guardianship.

"Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful,' and sitting in the shade." — Rudyard Kipling

Sunday 18th October
Fruit Growing
Identify different ways to grow and manage several varieties of both soft and top fruit. We will cover harvesting and storage techniques, identifying potential problems, and planting support.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." — Robert Louis Stevenson

Sunday 22nd November
Composting & Review
A practical demonstration on achieving the best quality compost to reuse on your soil. We also look at the overall garden year to identify what did not go well and how to approach the next season.

"In nature nothing is wasted, nothing is created, everything is transformed." — Antoine Lavoisier

All Workshops Include:

• Live demonstrations for practical, hands-on learning.
• Access to a shared allotment to practice and nurture techniques in-between each workshop.
• Journal notes provided at each session to support your seasonal, reflective, and practical gardening journey.
• Samples of growing materials saved or grown by our community to help you get started.
• Refreshments provided for all attendees.

How to BookSpaces are limited for each session. Please book your place via Eventbrite.
For any specific inquiries, please contact events@festinalente.ie.

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches entire trust." — Gertrude Jekyll